Stop Shop Abuse: Bans, knife scans part of plan to halt violence against retail workers

NSW Police are launching an unprecedented assault on the epidemic of retail violence terrorising shop workers, in response to The Telegraph’s Stop Shop Abuse campaign.

Young workers are threatened by a shopper with a knife. Picture: Supplied

A major police operation targeting retail violence will be rolled out across the state as part of a Minns government “zero tolerance” strategy, amid soaring attacks, assaults and abuse of frontline shop workers.

Police prosecutors will seek to place restriction orders preventing repeat and violent offenders from re-entering retail premises, while shoppers can also expect to see high-visibility policing operations such as knife scanning occurring at their local stores.

The commitment is in response to The Telegraph’s Stop Shop Abuse campaign, which exposed more than 800,000 instances of aggression, abuse and violence on shop workers in the past year.

The violence included workers being attacked with knives, punched in the face and set upon in the aisles.

Dedicated points of contact within each police region to support faster communication, co-ordination and response to incidents will also be established as part of the statewide strategy, which has been developed in consultation with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), the Australian Retailers Association, National Retail Association and the Shopping Centre Council.

To be unveiled today (Friday), the strategy will target offences including assaults, intimidation and threats of violence, repeat offending and theft.

A shopper pulls a knife when asked to pay for their trolley-load of groceries. Picture: Supplied.

The Stop Shop Abuse campaign was initiated after the CEOs of 22 of Australia’s major retailers – including Woolworths, Coles, Kmart, BWS and Myer – called for tougher measures to combat in-store violence, which they say has grown by 700 per cent since Covid.

Their demands included the introduction of workplace protection orders to prevent known offenders from re-entering a store, a dedicated police taskforce for retail crime in each state, and a digital platform to report non-urgent offences.

In response, the Minns government will today announce the rollout of the CBD-based Operation Percentile to retail outlets across the state plus the adoption of a multi-pronged retail crime strategy.

A customer repeatedly punches a Woolworths worker. Picture: Supplied.

Operating within the CBD, Operation Percentile has been targeting repeat and “high-harm” retail offenders since August last year, with 1080 people charged with more than 1395 offences and $960,500 worth of stock recovered.

It will now be rolled out statewide, with police prosecutors to also seek Place Restriction Orders as a condition of bail to ensure repeat offenders do not return to the premises.

Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) secretary Bernie Smith welcomed the announcement at a press conference on Friday, but said there was still work to do.

“We really appreciate this retail crime strategy because we want to see cops in shops,” he said.

“We want to see high visibility policing, because we want people to know if you step out of line and assault a worker, there are consequences and you will be caught.”

“There’s always more to do but we are looking forward to working with retailers, with police - it’s a collaboration.

“But I’m very happy, it’s a great step forward.”

Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley and NSW Police Force Commissioner Mal Lanyon (2nd left) walk with police after announcing a new retail violence strategy at a press conference. Picture: NewsWire / Jane Dempster.

Police will also conduct intelligence-led retail theft operations to target and disrupt crime as part of the strategy, while monthly meetings will be held with NSW-based retailers to discuss emerging threats and issues raised by peak bodies.

A communication package for officers to increase frontline police awareness and

understanding of retail crime and its impacts will also be developed.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the rollout of Operation Percentile and the adoption of a statewide retail crime strategy sent a clear message that violence would not be tolerated.

“No one should be attacked for simply doing their job, which is why the NSW Police, backed by the Minns government, is taking decisive action by giving police everything they need to keep the community safe,” she said.

NSW Police Force Commissioner Mal Lanyon and Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley announce a new retail violence strategy. Picture: NewsWire / Jane Dempster

“Violence and aggression towards workers is intolerable and the presence of police tells people in no uncertain terms that this behaviour will not be tolerated and there are real consequences for those who cross the line.

“Today’s announcement strengthens our commitment to protect workers, and with this new strategy, police will have the resources they need to respond swiftly and effectively.”

Operation Percentile was initiated in response to research which showed 10 per cent of offenders accounted for more than 60 per cent of offences.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said it was “deeply concerning” that a “small proportion of offenders” were responsible for such a significant share of retail crime, “with devastating consequences for those affected”.

“This strategy outlines clear objectives and a comprehensive suite of tactics to disrupt repeat offending and drive intelligence-led retail operations across the state,” he said.

Our front page on August 30 announcing the Stop Shop Abuse campaign.

More acts of violence come to light in our October 11 story.

“Police will continue to collaborate closely with retailers and industry bodies to refine our disruption strategies and respond swiftly to emerging threats.

“While prevention remains our priority, we will also enforce place-based restrictions to prevent recidivist offenders from causing further harm.”

On Friday, Commissioner Lanyon said one of the key focuses for police in protecting workers, was enforcing the Place Restriction Orders, to keep known offenders out of shops.

“When I speak about assault on retail workers, since 2023 we have charged 189 people, so police are focusing on place restriction orders to make sure recidivists do not continue to offend or harm workers,” he said.

“Once we are notified they are there or if we have intelligence that (someone has breached an order), we can make sure action is taken.

“There’s no point having the order in place unless we enforce it.”

Commissioner Lanyon said those who breach the restriction orders could face up to 12 months prison.

“Visibile presence of police aids the feeling of safety, so this announcement says we are going to work closely with indutry… we don’t stand for this behaviour, we have a no tolerance policy for any other crime type,” he said.

Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis said the strategy would complement new laws the Minns government had already introduced to help protect retail workers, which included greater penalties and time behind bars.

More than 3300 requests for service in the retail sector had also been made to SafeWork NSW over the past five years, prompting the establishment of a working group to address

violence and abuse against workers.

“The NSW government is taking a zero-tolerance approach. Retail workers have the right to feel and be safe when they go to work and this strategy will continue to protect them,” Ms Cotsis said.

Originally published as Stop Shop Abuse: Bans, knife scans part of plan to halt violence against retail workers